Index tabs



-w. F. CUNNINGHAM 2,893,144

INDEX TABS July 7, 1959 Filed Nov. 16, 1953 mmvrox Walierlf'Cunm'rg/zanz BY 0 M we;

fliiys United States Patent INDEX TABS Walter Cunningham, Chicago, Ill.,assignor to Superior Tabbies, Inc., Chicago, Ill., an Illinoiscorporation Application November 16, 1953, Serial No. 392,286

Claims. (Cl. 40-23) This invention relates to improvements in indextabs.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved tab constructionwhich enables the tab to be readily affixed to the edge of a sheet of abound volume without the use of added moisture or adhesive and withoutheating or pressing and without danger of causing wrinkles in the sheetat the region of attachment.

Another object of the invention is to provide an index tab constructionhaving wings or flaps formed of selfadhering sheet material which notonly secures filler members in place in the tab, but provides the meanswhereby the wings of the tab are readily secured to opposed portions ofthe sheet on which the tab is mounted.

In the preparation of index tabs on the margins of sheets of apublication, such as catalogs, bound reports, etc., in some instancesthe sheets after printing are so cut as to form integral tabs before thesheets are assembled and bound into volume form. This operation is notonly wasteful of paper, but the cutting of the sheets to arrange thetabs in properly staggered relation is time consuming and thereforecostly. Where tabs which are non-integral with the sheets have beenaffixed to bound publications, such operations also have been timeconsuming and expensive since generally such tabs require either theapplication of adhesive or moisture during the process of aflixation aswell as heating and/or pressing thereafter. By means of the presentimprovements the tabs can be afiixed to the edges of the proper sheetsof a publication without the employment of specially skilled artisanssince the tabs are self-adhering to the applied sheets. The adheringwings of the tabs which engage the sheets are transparent and hence canbe of a size to provide adequate strength without obscuring portions ofprinted matter which may be covered by the wings and the actualafiixation of the tabs can be performed without use of special equipmentor apparatus.

Other objects and advantages of the present improve ments will beapparent from a consideration of the following specification wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tab embodying the presentimprovements shown in afiixed relation on a paper sheet, such as of abound catalog, or the like.

' Fig. 2 is a broken perspective view of a strip of such tabs.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating somewhat diagrammatically thesteps in the manufacture and the relationship of the parts of the tabsas they are assembled into a strip of tabs, ready for use upon severancefrom the strip.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a roll of the tabs, which roll may beplaced in a suitable dispenser or holder for the convenience of theperson applying the tabs.

Fig. 5 is an end elevational View of a tab of the type shown in Figs.14, inclusive, and affixed to a sheet.

Fig. 6 is a broken perspective view of a tab of similar construction,but adapted for receiving a separate or nonintegral index indiciabearing insert.

Fig. 7 is a broken perspective view of a strip of tabs of the form shownin Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a end elevational view of a tab of the type shown in Figs. 6and 7 affixed to a sheet.

Referring to Fig. 2 which illustrates a portion of a strip consisting ofthree index tabs each designated generally by the numeral 10, it will beseen that the tabs have a common strip 11 and that each tab 10 iscomposed of a longitudinal portion 12 of the base strip 11 and inaddition two sections 13 and 14 disposed in parallel relation each onone side of the median line of the strip 11. The spacing betweensections 13 and 14 of each tab is suflicient to enable folding of thetwo longitudinal halves of the tabs without unduly stressing the centralportion of the strip material as the sections 13 and 14 move intoface-to-face contact as the tab is folded to the relation shown intoFig. 1. Such spacing apart of the sections 13 and 14 along thelongitudinal center line of the strip 11 is dependent generally on thethickness of the material of the sections 13 and 14. In the form of thetabs shown in Fig. 2 before they are separated upon severance crosswiseof the strip along the lines indicated at 15 in said figure, the uppersurface of the strip 11 as viewed in said figure is of apressure-sensitive adhesive character and by this characteristic of thesurface it secures the sections 13 and 14 in position. The bottom oropposed surface of the strip 11 is non-adhesive. The material of whichthe strip 11 is composed is a wellknown transparent sheet material, oneform of which is sold as Scotch tape, but as stated, said strip 11 hasadhesive characteristics on one side or surface only.

The sections 13 and 14 shown in Fig. 2 may likewise be formed oforiginally transparent but non-adhesive cellulose material somewhatthicker than the material of the strip 11. The sections 13 and 14 may beformed, if desired, of a non-transparent paper stock material such ascardboard. Thus with the strip 11 of relatively thin transparentcellulosic or like material of .003 inch thickness, for example, thematerial of sections 13 and 15 might well be of approximately .0075 inchin thickness, for example, to give adequate stiffness to the portion ofthe applied tab which projects beyond the edge of a bound sheet. Thesections 13 and 14, when in position on the adhesive side of the strip11, leave uncovered the lateral or wing portions 16 of the adhesivesurface of the strip for securing the several tabs, after the same hasbeen severed from the strip, to the edges of sheets of the catalog forindexing purposes. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the sections 13 and 14bear suitable indicia for indexing purposes, the indicia being letters,abbreviations, or the like, depending on the character of thepublication to which they are applied in use.

In forming a strip of connected tabs of the character suggested in Fig.2, a strip 11 of transparent cellulose material having one adhesivesurface may be fed from a roll 17 thereof, over a roller 18, thencebetween dies 19 which punch openings 20 therein and then rolled intoroll form, if desired. The strips of material 21 and 22 of which thesections 13 and 14 are formed are fed from a roll 23 of such strips of asingle wider strip may be fed from its source and slitted longitudinallyconcurrently with the feeding action. The two strips, suitably spacedapart pass under a companion roll 24 which presses the strips 21, 22firmly into adherent contact with the adhesive upper surface of thestrip 11. In passing between the dies 19, openings 20 are formed in thecomposite strip, which openings are suitably spaced along the compositestrip to provide tabs of the desired length. The cut-outs or openings 20formed by the dies sever the strips 21, 22 into the sections 13 and 14which, however,

are retained in position by the unsevered longitudinal portions of thestrip 11.

The sections 13 and 14 bear indicia which is visible through thetransparent material of the strip 11 as suggested in Fig. 1. Theimprinting of the indicia on the strips 21, 22 will usually correspondto that required for a particular job, although tabs bearing indicia forgeneral use may be made; Such imprinting of the indicia on the strips21, 22 is effected prior to the assembly of the parts in tab formingrelation. If the strips 21 and 22 are of paper, merely printing theindicia thereon in suitably spaced relation and in repeated cycles maybe sufficient, although the paper strips may be coated also to provide adesired color background for the imprinted indicia. If the sections 13and 14 are originally of transparent material, such surface coloring isrequired to render the strips opaque and thus prevent visualinterference of the indicia borne by the sections when the tabs are inuse as shown in Fig. 1.

The composite strips of tabs made as above described preferably are soldin roll form as indicated in Fig. 4, the tape being wound upon a spool25. The completed strips of tabs may, however, be sold in lengths, ifdesired, rather than in roll form.

A roll 25 of a strip of tabs, such as shown in Fig. 4 may be placed in asuitable dispenser (not shown) and in affixing the tabs in place asshown in Fig. 1, the material of the roll is fed forwardly and severedfrom. the strip. The severence occurs transversely of the strip, asalong the dotted lines 15 shown in Fig. 2. The operator then attachesone adhesive margin of a tab to one side of the sheet after locating theedge of the respective section 13 or 14 against the edge of the sheet.The tab is then folded along its center line as indicated in Fig. 5 andthe other adhesive wing portion is adhesively attached to the oppositeside of the sheet.

When so attached the transparent wing sections 16 of the tab may in someinstances overlie printed matter on either side of the sheet, but sincethe strip 11 is transparent, the printing is clearly visible through thestrip. The indicia on the sections 13 and 14 is likewise clearly visibleand the tab is neat, firmly attached and soil resistant.

In the use of a suitable dispenser for the tab rolls as mentioned, theopenings 20 in the tab strip may be utilized by dispenser mechanism inadvancing the tab strip a predetermined distance during each dispensingoperation.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8 is similar to theform above described except that the composite strip 26 shown in Fig. 7has no spaced openings defining tab lengths, but the strip may be cut,with scissors if desired, into the lengths required. The tab strip 26,shown in Fig. 7, comprises a transparent base strip 28 with adhesive ofthe pressure-sensitive type on one surface only.. To that surface isattached two spaced apart filler strips 29 and 30. The filler strips 29and 30 also are of transparent material and thicker than the base strip28. They are spaced apart along the center line of the base strip toprovide a hinge construction as in the preceding form as shown in Fig.7. Such composite tab strips, as shown in Fig. 7, may be cut withscissors or the like to the length desired by the user and attached .tosheets of a publication as above described. Thereafter an insert 31 ofcardboard, paper, or other suitable opaque material, bearing the desiredindicia on opposed sides, which may be typed, printed, or in longhand,is inserted in the pocket or space between the adjacent faces of thesections 29, 30 of the affixed tab as shown in Figs. 6 and 8.

In both forms of the tab construction above described the base strips 11and 28 are of transparent material having one surface only thereofbearing pressure-sensitive adhesive. Suchsurface adhesively secures thefiller sections thereto in spaced relation relative to the center lineslid into position in the pockets or spaces between the contactingnon-adherent surfaces of the sections 29, 30.

It will be apparent that composite tab strips of the types shown may beformed into rolls if desired for merchandising purposes or sold inunrolled lengths. When in the form of rolls, the exposed adhesive wingsections of a base strip may tend to adhere to adjacent convolutions ofthe roll, but since the contact of the adhesive portions is only withthe non-adhesive side of the same strip, such tendency to adherepresents no problem in unwinding the roll by hand or by means of asuitable dispenser. In the afiixation of a tab of either described formto a sheet, the filler member of the first affixed half of the tabconstitutes, in effect, a gauge or stop as the longitudinal edge of thefiller is brought against the edge of the sheet before the adhesive wingportion is brought into adhesive contact with the sheet. The fillers soused thus enable the tabs to be affixed with uniformity to the pages ofa publication.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention forthe purpose of illustration, it will be apparent that various changes inthe details of the illustrated structure may be resorted to withoutdeparture from the spirit of the invention defined by the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A strip index tab construction adapted to be dispensed in roll formcomprising a base member of transparent sheet material having pressuresensitive adhesive on one surface, and a pair of filler membersadhesively attached to the base member on said surface by the adhesivethereof, said filler members being parallel and spaced apart along thelongitudinal center line of the base to define therebetween a hingesection of a width enabling the base member to be folded freely forswinging the filler members in face-to-face contact upon removal fromthe strip, said base member being of a width extending laterally beyondthe filler members to provide wings for attachment by the adhesivethereof to opposed surfaces of a marginal portion of a sheet, saidfiller members carrying index indicia visible through the transparentmaterial of the base member, and said base and filler members havingcentrally disposed openings spaced along the strip between adjacent saidindicia to define the lengths of separable tabs.

2. An index tab construction providing a rollable strip of a pluralityof separable tabs, comprising a base member of transparent sheetmaterial having pressure sensitive adhesive on one surface, and a pairof filler members adhesively attached to the base member on said surfaceby the adhesive thereof, said filler members being parallel and spacedapart along the longitudinal center line of the base to definetherebetween a hinge section of a width enabling, the base member to befolded freely for swinging the filler members in face-to face contactupon removal from the strip, said base and filler members hav-' ingcentrally disposed openings spaced along the strip to define thelengths. of said separable tabs, said base member being of a widthextending laterally beyond the fi-ller members to provide wings forattachment by the adhesive thereof to opposed surfaces of a marginalportion of a sheet, and said filler members being provided with indexindicia visible from opposed sides of each separated and attached tabthrough the transparent material of the base member.

3. A fiat index tab construction comprising a base member of transparentsheet material having pressure sensitive adhesive on one surface, and apair of filler members adhesively attached to the base member on saidsurface by the adhesive thereof, said filler members being parallel andspaced apart along the longitudinal center line of the base to definetherebetween a hinge section of a width enabling the base member to befolded freely for swinging the filler members into face-to-face contact,said base member being of a width extending laterally beyond the fillermembers to provide wings for attachment by the adhesive thereof toopposed surfaces of a marginal portion of a sheet, said members beingprovided with index indicia on the sides thereof visible through thetransparent material of said base member.

4. A flat index tab construction comprising a base member of transparentsheet material having pressure sensitive adhesive on one surface, and apair of filler members adhesively attached to the base member on saidsurface by the adhesive thereof, said filler members being parallel andspaced apart along the longitudinal center line of the base to definetherebetween a hinge section of a width enabling the base member to befolded (freely for swinging the filler members into face-to-facecontact, said base member being of a width extending laterally beyondthe filler members to provide wings for attachment by the adhesivethereof to opposed surfaces of a marginal portion of a sheet.

5. A flexible flat index tab construction comprises a base member oftransparent sheet material having pressure sensitive adhesive on onesurface, and a pair of filler members adhesively attached to the basemember on said surface by the adhesive thereof, said filler membersbeing parallel and spaced from each other laterally of the base member adistance approximately equal to the sum of the thicknesses of saidfiller members, said base member being of a width extending laterallybeyond the filler members to provide wings for attachment by theadhesive thereof to opposed surfaces of a marginal portion of a sheet,whereby such spacing of said filler members faci1itates folding of thetab to effect such attachment to a sheet, avoids bulkiness, and assuresflexibility.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,416,529 Turner May 16, 1922 1,437,773 Phalen Dec. 5, 1922 1,785,780Maish Dec. 23, 1930 2,303,346 Flood Dec. 1, 1942 2,541,791 Taylor Feb.13, 1951 2,649,796 Zalkind Aug. 25, 1953

